Acer Aspire Switch 10: Top 3 Business Features

It’s hard to be truly productive without a full physical keyboard. / Credit: Acer

Acer's Aspire Switch 10 combines the best features of a tablet and a laptop computer in one flexible business device. When you want to use its 10-inch display like a tablet, simply detach the display from the keyboard dock. And when you want a productivity boost, the display snaps firmly back onto the keyboard via a magnetic strip.

For handling business tasks away from the office, tablets have obvious advantages over laptop computers. Tablets are thin and portable, and touch screen apps are easier to navigate on the go. But it's hard to be truly productive without a full physical keyboard, so mobile business users should give hybrid machines like the Aspire Switch 10 a look. Acer's Windows-powered device isn't available to purchase just yet, but will hit store shelves in late May. Here are three features that make it worth waiting for.

Hybrid functionality

The Aspire Switch 10 transforms from tablet to laptop computer in seconds. The display snaps magnetically onto the keyboard dock with a firm click, and detaches from the dock with a firm pull. The hybrid form factor provides a good balance between productivity and portability, making this a versatile machine for business users. You can also attach the display to the dock backwards for "presentation" mode, or use the keyboard to prop up the display at an angle in "tent" mode.

Windows 8

Android tablets and the iPad are great mobile devices, but they can only run mobile apps. A Windows 8-powered device like the Aspire Switch 10, meanwhile, can run all the desktop software you use in the office, including the full version of Microsoft Office and other programs such as Photoshop. Acer's hybrid device is basically a Windows laptop with a detachable display, so you won't have to change your workflow to get things done on the go.

Solid specs

The Acer Aspire Switch 10 boasts respectable hardware, including a sharp, 10-inch display with wide viewing angles. Under the hood, the Switch packs a quad-core processor, Intel HD graphics, 2GB of RAM, and either 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage. And Acer promises this hybrid will get roughly 8 hours of battery life between charges, so business users can expect it to last through the end of the workday.

Brett Nuckles

Brett Nuckles has been a working journalist since 2009. He got his start in local newspapers covering community news, local government, education and more before he joined the Business News Daily staff in 2013. He graduated from Ohio University, where he studied Journalism and English. Follow him on Twitter @BrettNuckles.